Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. It can occur at any age, but it is most likely to occur as we age. Symptoms may include difficulty falling asleep, daytime sleepiness, frequent awakenings during the night, difficulty falling back to sleep, early morning awakenings, feeling tired upon waking, irritability, fatigue, depression, anxiety, difficulty with concentration and memory and persistent worrying about sleep.

Primary insomnia occurs when it is not directly associated with any other health conditions or disorders. Secondary insomnia occurs when sleep problems are associated with health conditions like depression, anxiety, pain, and chronic or acute diseases like asthma, cancer and arthritis. It can also be associated with medications or drugs like alcohol, nicotine and caffeine.

Insomnia can be chronic (long-term) or acute (short term). Acute insomnia can last from one night to a few weeks while chronic insomnia occurs at least three nights a week for a month or longer. Acute causes of insomnia may include acute stressors or illnesses, medications, and abrupt lifestyle, work or environmental changes. The two most common causes of chronic insomnia are depression and anxiety. Other causes of chronic insomnia may include stress, chronic medical conditions and sleep disorders like sleep apnea, narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome.

Diagnosing Insomnia
If you think you have insomnia, seek help from a licensed health care provider. An evaluation may include a medical history, a sleep history and diary, a sleep study, brain EEG and other specialized testing to identify causes of secondary insomnia. Elevated bedtime hormone levels of the hormone cortisol are a common cause of insomnia. It is important to identify the underlying cause of your insomnia. Treating the symptoms of insomnia with prescriptions and over the counter medications will often loss their effectiveness and may cause dependency.

Tips for combating insomnia include:

Go to bed at the same time each night.

Avoid daytime naps.

Limit or avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol late in the night.

Regular exercise during the day.

Increase light exposure during the day.

Avoid late night heavy meals.

Eat a small bedtime snack.

Use black out curtains or sleep mask to avoid awakening due to sunlight.

Use earplugs or white noise machines to drown out disturbing sounds.

Limit artificial light by avoiding electronics like iPads, cell phones and televisions at bedtime, which might over stimulate you.

Make your bed comfortable with a good mattress and pillow.

Read a book, listen to music, or take a bath before bedtime to relax before you sleep.

Avoid using your bed for anything other than sleep or sex.

If you can’t sleep, get up and read, listen to soft music or do something that is not overly stimulating.

To avoid worrying at night by making a to-do list before you got to bed.

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*The content on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or to warranty any treatment, product or service. The information on this site is not designed and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent medical conditions.